Gin sheds its genteel persona when it’s done Territory style: Darwin Distilling Co.’s heli-foraging tour takes guests south of the city across breathtaking landscapes to Finniss River Lodge to source their own botanicals – perhaps paperbark, water lily or turkey bush. Then it’s a chopper flight back across the glorious floodplains and savanna woodlands to make unique small-batch gins. After lunch at Charlie’s of Darwin – featuring seared kangaroo loin, NT crocodile dumplings, grilled line-caught squid and wedges of cassava from Humpty Doo – finish with a glass of your bespoke gin and a 500ml take-home bottle as the perfect souvenir. 56 Smith St, Darwin.

There’s no better place to explore the decidedly Darwinian habit of breakfast laksa than Parap Village Markets, Saturdays from 8am. A steaming bowl of spicy broth may not seem the optimum choice on a warm morning, but try telling the laksa lovers who hotly debate Mary’s recipe versus Yati’s. Judge for yourself by joining a queue snaking past stalls offering fruit smoothies, Vietnamese rolls, Cambodian pancakes and Indonesian satays. Or make your judging official by diving into the Darwin International Laksa Festival, held every October. Multiple venues compete for the People’s Choice and Inspired-by-Laksa awards and the coveted Golden Bowl. 3/3 Vickers St, Parap.

Tali Wiru is a dreamlike dining experience. The handful of tables under a vast star-studded sky, with uninterrupted views of Uluru and Kata Tjuta, are awash with the magical changing colours of the night. The tour includes transfers from Yulara, Champagne and canapes at sunset, Indigenous stories, the mesmerising sounds of the didgeridoo, guided stargazing and some of the best food you can imagine, location aside: maybe Darling Downs wagyu with Davidson plum-Coonawarra cabernet jus; wild mushroom risotto with bush tomato, desert succulents and aged pecorino; desert honey mousse with Kakadu plum compote; all with matched Penfolds wines. 175 Yulara Dr, Yulara.

It’s Australia’s most iconic train journey – but one of The Ghan’s greatest surprises waits in the dining car. All meals are included – breakfasts, brunches, multi-course lunches and dinners – and of a calibre beyond what you’d think possible on a train. Each day, a different, beautifully illustrated menu fuses international flavours with Australian ingredients like barramundi, crocodile, saltbush and Kakadu plum. It’s a delicious silver-service celebration of the unique flora and fauna the train passes. The drinks list is similarly Antipodean, from Vasse Felix chardonnay to Cut Hill whisky. Fast before you board: you’re going to be eating very well. Darwin Berrimah Terminal, 3 Salloo St, East Arm.